Chapter 1: The Role of Globalization and Context on Workforce Education and Development

This is not a book about globalization, per se. Rather, the chapters contained herein provide details about workforce education and development (WFED) systems in various countries around the world using the common conceptual framework developed by Gray and Paryono (see Chapter 2, this volume). Even so, when considering the rapidly changing economic, political, and social environments in which we live, any complete discussion of WFED systems must consider the influence of globalization. Truly, we cannot ignore this phenomenon, its impact on our ways of life, or the demands it places on vocational preparation and attainment. This chapter, then, discusses the phenomenon referred to as globalization and the general impact it has on various national WFED systems. Specifically, we define globalization, discuss its influence on countries around the world, and examine the implications of globalization on WFED.